Sunny
Project
Product Design
Mobile UX
Theme
Productivity
ADHD
ROLE
Individual
tools
Figma
llustrator
Photoshop
Duration
2 months
Project Overview
This project is a habit-tracking and focus-enhancing device that helps users visualize their progress and stay motivated through a physical sunflower design and a customizable mobile app.
Inspired by the plant-growing gamification and Takashi Murakami, it offers a tactile, interactive experience where petals light up as users complete tasks or focus sessions, making habit formation and time management more enjoyable and motivating.
Introduction
The main goal of this project is to help users stay away from mobile phone distractions, focus on their tasks, and increase their sense of achievement through visual progress feedback.
When users complete tasks or set Pomodoro timing for focusing, the petals will gradually light up, giving users visual rewards, reducing dependence on mobile phones, and bringing a more pleasant habit-forming experience.
Problem
Observation
My (failed) habit tracking record in the app Habit
🫠
😩
People download various habit tracking apps, but always fail to keep recording and complete their goals.
With thousands of information on the internet, people are hard to be focused and study without the constantly checking phone
Target Users
People that want to improve their self-discipline, for better focused on study and work, and track daily habits.
The core user groups of this product include students, professionals, and individuals with self-discipline goals. These users often face the challenge of mobile phone interference when they are focused on the task, and need visual achievement feedback to maintain motivation.
Professionals can reduce mobile phone interference when focusing on work
Self-discipline enthusiasts can track the progress of habit formation and see long-term results.
Students can use this device to better manage their study time
Interviews
I like using focus apps because I can see the countdown and motivating animations while I'm focusing, like tomatoes or trees growing.
However, when I keep the app nearby while studying, it is a big temptation for me. Those notifications can still distract me, and I end up closing the focus mode to check messages when I get the urge.
When I need to focus, I put my phone aside because I know the person like me, picking it up is like opening Pandora’s box — I might get sucked in and lose track of time.
But without my focus incentives or the countdown clock, I also lack the motivation to keep focusing.
For habit tracking, I’ve downloaded many related apps, but I failed to record a lot of times. Sometimes I feel that they don’t motivate me enough to complete my habits.
Especially with mobile apps, sometimes I forget to record my habits if I don't open the app. Though I do get the notifications but I wish do not have to rely on my phone
Procrastinator A:
Procrastinator B:
Procrastinator C:
Painpoints
The smartphone, while used as a motivating focus tool, is also the main source of distraction
The Dilemma for focusing apps
Users enjoy watching the countdown feature or rewarding animations in focus apps.
No temptation, no distraction
But with phone nearby, they still get distracted and failed in being focused by notifications or the urge of apps-addiction.
They lose the motivation and countdown functions provided by focus apps, making it difficult to maintain concentration for longer periods.
😊
📱
❌
📱
😊
😵💫
😵💫
With Phone Aside
Without Phone
The weakness of habit tracker
The reward systems are not strong enough to motivate them to complete their habits.
They often forget to log their habits when they don’t actively open the app or check the phone notifications
Solutions
Physical product for focus companion
helping users avoid phone distractions while still receiving clear progress and motivational feedback.
motivates users through entertaining visible progress tracking and encourages habit logging with stronger feedback.
Fun Design with Motivational Visuals
By placing in visible locations such as on a desk, it serves as a constant reminder for users to log their habits or stay focused.
Placement as a Reminder
⏳
🤩
🔖
Concept Development
Inspiration - incentives
Forest the app
The Forest app inspires my project by using visual progress, like growing trees, to motivate users and reduce phone distractions. I wanted to incorporate its idea of rewarding focus and habit tracking but bring it into the physical world with a tactile device. The simplicity and effectiveness of turning tasks into visual achievements is key to my design.
Takashi Murakami (村上隆)
Takashi Murakami’s playful and vibrant art inspired the design of my sunflower device. His iconic flower motif reflects joy and growth, which aligns perfectly with the concept of habit formation. I wanted my product to be visually appealing and emotionally uplifting, drawing on his artistic style.
Information Architecture
Prototype
Focus Mode
The core user groups of this product include students, professionals, and individuals with self-discipline goals. These users often face the challenge of mobile phone interference when they are focused on the task, and need visual achievement feedback to maintain motivation.
Focus Mode
Users can set the petal colors through the app, controlling the lighting effects.
Focus Mode
Users can set the petal colors through the app, controlling the lighting effects.
Focus Mode
Users can view how many sunflowers they’ve "grown" each day, week, month, and year within the app. Progress is shown through visual charts to boost a sense of accomplishment.